Solar forecasting for networked power plants

Abstract

A method may include obtaining irradiance data at a first time and a second time from sensors, determining whether one or more solar modules of a plurality of networked power plants will be covered by a shadow or shade at a third time based on the irradiance data, and generating, based on the determination, a power output prediction for each power plant of the networked power plants at the third time. The method may further include receiving power delivery profiles for first and second loads, adjusting a power output of one or more power plants of the networked power plants based at least in part on the power output prediction and the power delivery profiles for the first and second loads, and allocating a combined power output of the power plants to the first and second loads based on first and second load reliability thresholds.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A non-transitory, processor-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 set a power output for a first renewable energy power plant (REPP) and a power output for a second REPP based at least in part on a power delivery profile for a first load and a power delivery profile for a second load, the power output for the first REPP and the power output for the second REPP collectively defining a combined power output;   identify a first desired allocation of the combined power output for the first load and a second desired allocation of the combined power output for the second load;   at least one of:
 cause transmission of a signal representing the first desired allocation to the first load, or 
 cause transmission of a signal representing the second desired allocation to the second load; and 
   cause delivery, during a time period, of the combined power output to a grid.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 22 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to record a difference between the first desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the first load from the grid during the time period. 
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 22 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to:
 record a difference between the first desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the first load from the grid during the time period; and   record a difference between the second desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the second load from the grid during the time period.   
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 24 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to calculate an energy request based on at least one of (1) the difference between the first desired allocation and the total amount of power received at the first load from the grid during the time period, or (2) the difference between the second desired allocation and the total amount of power received at the second load from the grid during the time period. 
     
     
         26 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the combined power output to the grid include instructions to increase a discharge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         27 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the combined power output to the grid include instructions to decrease a charge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory, processor-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 set a power output for a first renewable energy power plant (REPP) and a power output for a second REPP based at least in part on a power delivery profile for a first load and a power delivery profile for a second load, the power output for the first REPP and the power output for the second REPP collectively defining a combined power output;   identify a first desired allocation of the combined power output for the first load and a second desired allocation of the combined power output for the second load;   cause transmission of at least one of: (1) a signal representing the first desired allocation to the first load, or (2) a signal representing the second desired allocation to the second load;   cause delivery, during a time period, of a first portion of the combined power output to a grid and not to the second load; and   cause delivery, during the time period, of a second portion of the combined power output to the second load and not to the grid.   
     
     
         29 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions to identify the first desired allocation of the combined power output for the first load and the second desired allocation of the combined power output for the second load include instructions to identify the first desired allocation and the second desired allocation based on a ranking of the first load and the second load. 
     
     
         30 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions to identify the first desired allocation of the combined power output for the first load and the second desired allocation of the combined power output for the second load include instructions to identify the first desired allocation and the second desired allocation based on power usage predictions for the first load and the second load. 
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to record a difference between the first desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the first load from the grid during the time period. 
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to record a difference between the second desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the second load during the time period. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the first portion of the combined power output to the grid include instructions to increase a discharge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the second portion of the combined power output to the second load include instructions to increase a discharge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the first portion of the combined power output to the grid include instructions to decrease a charge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         36 . A non-transitory, processor-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 define a combined power output that is associated with (1) a first renewable energy power plant (REPP) and (2) a second REPP, based at least in part on a power delivery profile for a first load and a power delivery profile for a second load;   cause transmission of at least one of: (1) a signal representing a first desired allocation of the combined power output to the first load, or (2) a signal representing a second desired allocation of the combined power output to the second load;   cause delivery, during a time period, of a first portion of the combined power output to a grid; and   cause delivery, during the time period, of a second portion of the combined power output to one of the first load or the second load.   
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 36 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to record a difference between the first desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the first load from the at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP during the time period. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 36 , further storing instructions to cause the processor to record a difference between the second desired allocation and a total amount of power received at the second load during the time period. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the first portion of the combined power output to the grid include instructions to increase a discharge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the combined power output to the grid include instructions to decrease a charge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP. 
     
     
         41 . The non-transitory, processor-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions to cause delivery of the second portion of the combined power output to the one of the first load or the second load include instructions to increase a discharge of an energy storage system (ESS) of at least one of the first REPP or the second REPP.